Cam setting mechanism



CAM SETTING MECHANISM Filed April 6, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

RUDOLPH E. ZERUNEITH I BY A ORNE Y.

June 5, 1956 R. E. ZERUNEITH 2,748,580

CAM SETTING MECHANISM Filed April 6, 1954 4 Sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOR.

RUDOLPH E. ZERUNEITH June 5, 1956 R. E. ZERUNEITH CAM SETTING MECHANISM 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 6, 1954 a rzhdd a INVENTOR.

RUDOLPH E. ZERUNEITH ATT June 5, 1956 R. E. ZERUNEITH CAM SETTING MECHANISM 4 SheetsSheet 4 Filed April 6, 1954 E mm ER E m2 E H P L 0 D U R 2,748,580 CAM SETTING MECHANISM Rudolph E. Zernneith, Philadelphia, Pa. Application April 6, 1954, Serial No. 421,354 17 Claims. (CI. 6620) The present invention relates to the art of knitting and more particularly to an improvement in the needle-actuating mechanism (for circular knitting machines) of my U. S. Patent No. 2,573,782, issued November 6, 1951. As set forth in that patent, the mechanism provides means for the selective positioning of movable needle-actuating cylinder-cams and/or dial-cams, the said means including a rotatably journalled cylindrically shaped motiontransmitting member of relatively small diameter having at one end thereof a longitudinally extending eccentric pin operatively related to or connected with a cylindercam or a dial-cam and having at its opposite end a pair of diametrically spaced longitudinally extending eccentric pins each spaced equidistantly from the axis of the member, the said pair of pins being operatively related for alternate engagement with a selectively positioned patternfinger to rotate the said member through successive arcs of 180 degrees at each engagement. The rotative movements of the member causes the cylinder-cam or dial-cam associated therewith to be alternately placed in active needle moving position and in inactive position wherein the needles are not moved.

It is an object of this invention to improve the said needle actuating mechanism by the provision of means whereby the cylindrical member may be more easily rotated through the same successive arcs of 180 degrees when each of the pair of pins is engaged by the patternfinger. pins and by re-locating their angular position on the member in relation to the pattern-finger to increase the length of the turning arm of the member and to increase the length of the torque arm of the member to provide for increased member-turning torque action by the finger. Additionally the turning pins, now preferably four-sided, are stronger.

It is a further object to provide a simplified mounting arrangement for the cylindrical member and for a spring pressed detent in a cam section or other housing whereby the member may be manually replaceably removed therefrom without removing the detent and without removing the section or housing from the machine.

It is a still further object to provide auxiliary turning means individually associated with each cylindrical memher to act thereon, in addition to the action of the pattern finger, to increase the efiective turning force available to move the member through successive arcs of 180 degrees. The auxiliary turning means, comprising a spring pressed detent having a flat bottoming surface adapted alternately to be in contact with each of a pair of oppositely disposed flat surfaces formed on the cylindrical member, becomes active after the member has been partially finger-rotated and aids in completing each arc of rotation. Additionally, the co-acting fiat surfaces of the detent and of the member provide accurate positioning of the member at all times against unwanted angular or longitudinal displacement thereof, and automatically compensates for any over or under throw of the member by the finger.

With these and other objects in view as may appear in the specification, this invention consists in certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more fully described and claimed. For a complete understanding of the invention, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings.

Figure l is a view in elevation of the outside of cam ring sections of a circular revolving cam ring rib knitting This is accomplished by reshaping the turning nited States Patent F 2,748,586 Patented June 5, 1956 machine showing a number of cylindrical control mem bers radially disposed in the sections and showing brackets or housings on the sections in which a number of cylindrical control members are vertically disposed.

Figure 2 is a view in side elevation, partly in section, of the cam ring sections shown in Figure 1 and of additional parts of the knitting machine including a pattern mechanism having fingers adapted to act upon the cylindrical control members.

Figure 3 is a view in section of a cam section taken along the line 33 of Figure 1 and showing the dial, the cylinder and the gear ring of the machine in section.

Figure 4 is an enlarged view in section of a portion of a cam section taken along the line 44 of Figure 1 showing the mounting of the improved cylindrical actuating member and the mounting of the improved spring detent, at a higher level than shown in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a view in perspective of the improved cylindrical actuating (or cam-setting) member.

Figures 6 through 10 are a series of diagrammatic views showing successive steps in the changing relationship of a cylindrical actuating member, its turning pins, its spring detent, and a pattern finger as the member is rotated through an arc of degrees by the finger and by the detent.

Figure 11 is a view similar to that of Figure 6 showing a modified form of pattern finger.

A portion of a circular rotary cam ring rib knitting machine is illustrated in Figure 2 wherein posts such as 20, of which there are a number around the machine, extend upwardly from the top flat face of the usual driving gear ring, to which flat face the cylinder cam ring sections are secured and which are driven thereby. Secured to the upper end of each post 24 is an arm 21 of a structure (not shown) extending above the dial for the purpose of providing a support for the needle dial, dial cams, stop motion, yarns, and the normal superstructure of a rib knitting machine, all in the usual manner. The dial cam ring, a portion of which is shown at 22 above needle dial 23, Figure 3, is driven by suitable connections (not shown) to the posts 20.

Supported on and secured to the gear ring between thposts 26 are cylinder cam sections 24 of which the total number and the number between adjacent posts may vary depending upon the machine diameter. A corresponding number of dial cam sections make up the dial cam ring, the dial cam sections as well as the cylinder cam sections each having a number of movable needle operating cams therein.

In order that the movable cams may be selectively operated in the cylinder and dial cam sections, a pattern mechanism 25 is placed on the machine bedplate to one side of the rotary cam rings, such mechanism being stationary with respect to the rotary cam ring sections so that asthe latter pass the pattern mechanism they may be controlled by suitably positioned pattern fingers to move the needle operating cams in the cylinder and in the dial cam sections.

It will be observed that each cam section 24, shaped in the form of an arc of a circle, supports a number of cylinder needle actuating cams upon. its inner face, as clearly appears in the aforesaid patent, certain of the cams being fixed while others of which are movable, as for example, spaced cams 26 and 27, Figure 3, between which cylinder needle butts are adapted to pass. Each cylinder and dialcam section is provided with movable needle retracting stitch cams adapted to be concurrently adjusted to lengthen or shorten the stitch by the usual mechanism indicated generally at 28, Figure 1. The cams 26 and 27, as well as other movable cylinder needle advancing cams, are mounted upon vertically movable cam posts and are selectively movable into and out of needle advancing position by the improved motion transmitting mechanism of the present invention. The cams 26 and 27 are secured to a flattened face of a cylindrical cam post 29 in any suitable manner, the said post being provided with a diametrically opposite flattened face in which is formed a transversely extending cross head slot 34), such slot being located at separate levels on different cam posts. It will be noted in passing that cam 27, of half thickness, is a thin cam and will raise only cylinder needles 31 having long butts 32, while the cam 26, of full thickness, will lower all the needles regardless of butt length.

Each of the cam sections 24, initially of solid metal, is undercut on its inner side to provide a curved inner cam supporting surface 33 spaced from the needle cylinder, shown at 34, to provide room for the cams therebetween. A ledge 35 extends over the cams on the can". section 24, the inner face of this ledge being in close proximity to the needle cylinder when the cam sections are in place on the gear ring, a portion of which is shown at 36 in Figure 3. Each cam post 29 has a hearing in its cam section, this bearing being provided by a hole drilled vertically in the cam section near the inner face thereof and passing through the ledge 35 and the undercut face 33. The position of this hole is such that it is complete in the ledge 35, and is open at one lengthwise side thereof in the undercut face 33. The enclosed portions of the cam post 29 bearing hole is suflicient to retain the post therein, while the opening permits the cams to be fastened to the exposed face of the post in proper relation to the needle cylinder. The rear faces of the cams fastened to the post 29 are in contact with undercut face 33 and keep the cam post from turning.

in accordance with the present invention, improved means are provided for axially moving each cam post within its cam section, said means comprising cylindrical or rod-like cam-setting members, shown at 37, each of relatively small diameter compared to the length thereof and having an off center or eccentrically disposed pin 38 of circular cross-section extending longitudinally from one end and having a pair of off center, diametrically spaced pins 47 and 48 of quadrangular shape in crosssection extending longitudinally from the other end there of. The pins 38, 47 and 48 extend parallel to the axis of their supporting body member 37, with the pins 47 and 4S spaced equidistantly to either side thereof. The member 37 is also provided at approximately its midpoint with a pair of diametrically opposed similar fiat undercut parallel surfaces 41 and 42 formed by transversely slotting the member on opposite faces thereof to leave a wall 43 therebetween, the outer faces 44 and 45 at opposite ends of the wall being uncut. sidewalls 46, extending upwardly from the ends of each of the flat surfaces, are slanted outwardly to provide for readily positioning a spring detent therebetween. The transverse width of each fiat surface is substantial in relation to the diameter of the cylindrical control member 37 and may be equal to as much as seven eights of its diameter. The longitudinal dimension of each fiat 41 and 42 is substantially equal to its width. The angular relation of the flats 41 and 42 to the forward pin 38 is such that a diametric plane of the member 37 passing through the axis of the pin 38 is perpendicular to each of the flat surfaces 41 and 42 so that when the pin 38 is at its uppermost or lowermost position in the cylinder cam ring, this diametric plane is vertical and Hats 41 and 42 are horizontal. The angular position of newly shaped pins 47 and 48 in relation to the pin 38 will be set forth in detail inasmuch as it differs substantially from the relative angular positions of the corresponding pins on the cylindrical member of the aforesaid patent. Referring now to Figure 8 of Patent No. 2,543,782 (and to the reference characters used therein) showing the double-pin end-face of the cylindrical member 38 in full-line position of rest, wherein the single pin 39 is at its lowermost position, it will be noted that a diametric plane axially through the pair of pins 40 and 41 makes an angle of approximately 60 degrees with a second diametric plane axially through the axis of the pin 39 and through the axis of the cylindrical member 38, and makes an angle of approximately 30 degrees with the horizontal. It will be noted that the pin 40, the one to be next in contact with the pattern finger, is tangent to a horizontal plane (a diametric plane normal to the second diametric plane) so that it is only just below the horizontal when its peripheral face is engaged by the pattern finger 52, in which position the initial torque arm tending to turn the member 38 is very short and is equal to the radius of pin 40. Inasmuch as contact between the pattern finger 52 and the pin 40 is on the peripheral face of the latter, the turning arm of member 38 is less than the radius of the member 38. Of course, the torque arm increases for easier turning as the member 38 is rotated, but the initial position of pin 40, so close to horizontal dead-center, makes a hard binding movement of the initial rotation which may at times result in pin-breakage despite the provision of special bearings to ease the movement. This condition has been materially improved by providing four-sided stronger projecting pins, by relocating the pins, and by providing a spring detent which serves not only to retain the cylindrical member in its position of rest against unwanted longitudinal and/or angular displacement but also serves as additional means to rotate the member a full degrees. The change in shape of the rotating pins and angular relocation thereof provides turning and torque arms of increased length for the cylindrical member at the time of initial contact with a pattern finger. The pattern finger location and its contour may be changed to some degree in order to fully cooperate with the newly shaped pins.

The newly shaped longitudinally extending pins of member 37, designated 47 and 48, are diametrically opposed and are parallel to the pin 38 and to the axis of the member 37. The pins, of four-sided shape, are preferably formed by two milling operations on the end of a rod from which the member 37 is formed. Straddlc milling the rod end provides spaced parallel side faces 49 and 50 of pin 47 and spaced parallel side faces 51 and 52 of pin 48, and milling in a direction transverse to the straddle milling removes the metal between the pins 47 and 48 and provides spaced parallel end faces 53 and 54 of the pins 47 and 48. It will be noted that oppositely disposed end faces 55 and 56, arc-shaped since they are part of the peripheral surface of the rod, meet the faces 50 and 51 of the pins 47 and 48 in the diametric plane axially through the pin 38, this plane being vertical in Figure 6. The transverse milling is at such an angle that the side faces 50 and 51 are narrower than the side faces 49 and 52. The resulting pins 47 and 48 are similar and are equidistant from the axis of member 37, Figure 6. It should also be noted that a diametric plane of the member 37 centrally disposed between the side faces 49 and 50 and the side faces 51 and 52 of the pins 47 and 48 respectively, meets the above described vertical plane at an angle of approximately 22 degrees so that the longitudinal meeting edge, designated 57, of faces 52 and 56 will be just below a diametric plane of member 37 at 45 degrees to the said vertical plane. Inasmuch as edge 57 initially contacts the pattern finger, the turning arm of member 37 is the full radius of the cylinder and the torque arm of member 37 is the distance between the edge 57 and the horizontal, Figure 6. The pins 47 and 48 are positioned so that a single diametric plane of the member 37 passes through the pins 47 and 48 as well as the pin 38.

A spring urged cylindrically shaped detent 58 is used with each cylindrical member 37, said detent being centrally apertured to receive a compression spring 59 therein and being provided with a flat bottoming surface 60 for engagement with the flats 41, 42 of said member.

The detent 58, suitably mounted in the cam section 24 for vertical movement above the said flats, is provided at its opened end with an encircling ledge or lip 61-a for the purpose of limiting the spring movement of the detent when the member 37 associated therewith is removed from the cam section, such limit being reached when the ledge 61-a comes into contact with a shoulder 61-]; in the cam section 24, the shoulder 61-b being formed where the detent receiving aperture is enlarged to receive the lip 61-a. Normally, with a member 37 in position of rest, said lip 61-a will be spaced from shoulder 6lb sufficient to allow full spring pressure to be exerted on the member, Figure 4. Pressure is adapted to be exerted upon the spring 59 by the underside of an adjusting screw 62 threadedly engaged in the upper end of the detent receiving aperture, the screw 62 having a central spring centering plug 63 on its underside. Encircling needle bearings 64, at the outer end of each member 37, are suitably mounted in the cam sections. The screw 62 is positioned to permit a full rise of the detent 58 as the member 37 is turned.

The members 37 rotatably fit in radial bores provided in the cam sections 24, the bores being positioned at a plurality of levels and at circumferentially spaced points in each camsection directly in line with a cam post. Each member 37 when in operative position has the forward eccentric pin 38 fitted within the cross head slot of its associated cam post and has the rear eccentric pins 47 and 48 projecting freely from the outer face of the cam ring. At rest, the forward pin 38 of each member 37 is either in its uppermost or lowermost position, while the rear pins 47 and 48 are in one or the other of the positions shown in Figures 6 and 10. When the pins 47 and 48 are in the position of Figure 5-, then the forward pin 38 is in its uppermost position and its associated cam post and attendant cams are in raised active position. Conversely, when the pins 47, 48 are in the position of Figure the cams are in lowered inactive position. The movement imparted to each cam post is equal to twice the distance from the center of the cylindrical member 37 to the center of pin 38.

Means are provided to turn each of the cylindrical members 37 a distance of 180 degrees whenever it is desired to move the cams associated therewith. Changing the character of the knitting may require movement of cams in the dial cam ring as well as in the cylindrical cam ring. The pattern mechanism 25, on the bed plate of the machine and stationary relative to the rotation of the cam ring, has a control box 65 containing a series of radially movable pattern fingers 66 having operative ends 67 disposed at each level of the cylindrical members 37. The said fingers 66 may be selectively moved inwardly for engagement with pins 47, 48 of members 37 by vertically movable slide rods 68 individually associated with fingers 66 and selected for vertical movement by a pattern chain (not shown). The turning relation of the pattern finger ends 67 and the turning pins 47 and 48 is shown in Figures 6 through 10.

The improved cylindrical turning members 37, while described specifically in connection with the cams of the cylinder cam ring, are equally useful in moving dial cams. However, since the cited patent clearly discloses the specific manner of associating the cylindrical members of the patent with the dial cams, it is not necessary to go into this again in detail in connection with the improved cylindrical members of the present invention. It is enough to say that the improved cylindrical members 37, shown in vertical position in housings 69 alfixed to sections 24, are operated by pattern fingers 70 to move the dial cams in the same Way that other members 37 are operated to move the cylinder cams.

In the views of Figures 6 to 10, a pattern finger end 67 has the contour shown of which the side first engaging edge 57 of pin 43 is vertically disposed, as indicated at 71. After such engagement and after partial machine tion.

rotation, cylindrical member 3'7 is partially turned clockwise to the position of Figure 7 during which the edge 57 has been in sliding contact with side 71 of the finger and has moved downwardly thereof until side face 52 of the member 37 engages side 7i of the finger. At the same time detent 58 has been partially raised by the turning of fiat 42 under its bottom face 6%). Continued movement of the machine will cause the parts to assume the relation shown in Figure 8 wherein longitudinal edge 72, between faces 52 and 54 of pin 48, is now engaged by side 71 of the pattern finger 67. It wiil be noted that at this point the detent 58 has been further raised and is in its uppermost position since peripheral face 4.5, between the flats, is now under the detent. Continued machine rotation will bring the parts to the position of Figure 9 in which member 37 is further rotated and in which its edge 72 is about to leave the vertical side 71 of the finger for engagement with the undercut side 73 thereof. It will be noted that detent 53 at this point is still at its uppermost position in engagement with the face 45 and is just ready to leave the said face 45 as rotation continues.

In the position of Figures 8 and 9, and at any angular position therebetween, the detent will not prevent longitudinal movement of member 37. Accordingly, when it is desired to remove a member 37, it is only necessar to turn the same until its detent is in uppermost posi tion whereupon the member may be moved out of its bore, all of which may be done by hand. The detent will then drop slightly to its limited lowermost posi- The lowered position of detent bottom face 6%) is such that the pin 38 of a member 37, propeny turned, may be placed thereunder. When it is desired to place a member 37 in an empty bore, it is merely necessary to insert the member in the bore with its forward pin under the detent and then to turn the member until the forward pin is in uppermost position whereupon the member may be further inwardly moved to final position, this too being a manual operation. insertion of the forward pin into the cross head slot of its cam post will follow proper positioning of the parts. It should be noted that pattern finger 67 in active position will serve as a stop to prevent accidental longitudinal movement of a member 37 at the time during its rotation by finger 67 when it is free of the restraining action of its detent.

Continued rotation of the machine will cause member 37 to rotate beyond its position of Figure 9 whereupon detent 58 will leave the face 45 of the member and its bottom face 60 will begin to act upon the fiat 41 to exert a turning force on the member, the force being that which has been stored in the spring by its initial compression and by the compression due to raising the detent. This turning action of the detent is in addition to that of pattern finger 67 and results in snap action rotation of member 37 from position of Figure 9 to that of Figure l0 wherein the degree movement has been completed. Of course if there is any resistance to such snap action turning it will be apparent that finger 67 in continued contact with edge 72 will turn member 37 as the machine continues to rotate. The edge 72 will be in sliding contact with angled face 73 and finally will be in contact with a top side 74 at the forward end of the finger 67. The top side 74 of the finger extends just above the axis of member 37. It should be noted that even though edge 72 of the member is spaced from the top 74 of the finger with the parts at rest, Figure 10, the spring action of the detent will insure full 136 degree movement. The forward pin 38 is now in lowermost position and at any time that it is desired to again rotate member 37 for 180 degrees, the pattern finger 67 will be made active to engage pin 47, the action between pin 47 and finger 67 being identical with the above described action of pin 48 and finger 67. The space between faces 53 and 54 of pins 47 and is sufficient to allow the entrance of finger 6'7 therebetween.

A modified form for the operating end of a pattern finger is shown in Figure 10 wherein finger 75, narrower and longer than finger 67, remains in contact with edge 72 of pin 48 until a complete 180 degree movement has been imparted to a member 37. The narrower end of the finger 75 provides more clearance between the finger and pins 47 and 48 during rotating contact therewith as the finger passes between the said pins.

It will be seen that this invention provides an improvement in the needle actuating mechanism of my patent whereby the turning of the cylindrical cam-moving memher is made easier and more positive for each of its 180 degree rotations.

It will be understood that the present invention is susceptible of various changes and modifications which may be made from time to time without departing from the general principles thereof, and it is accordingly intended to claim the same broadly, as well as specifically, as indicated by the appended claims.

Having described the invention, the following is claimed:

1. In a knitting machine having a housing and a movable cam, means adapted to move said cam comprising a cylindrically shaped member rotatably journalled in said housing for actuating said cam, said member having an eccentric pin extending longitudinally from one end and a pair of spaced eccentric pins extending longitudinally from the opposite end thereof, said pair of pins being spaced equidistantly to either side of the longitudinal axis of said member and being closer to a diametric plane of said member passing through said single pin than to a second diametric plane normal to said first plane.

2. In a knitting machine having a housing and a movable cam. means adapted to move said cam comprising a cylindrically shaped member rotatably journalled in said housing for actuating said cam, said member having an eccentric pin extending longitudinally from one end and a pair of spaced eccentric pins extending longitudinally from the opposite end thereof, said pair of pins being spaced equidistantly to either side of the longitudinal axis of said member and being angularly positioned so that a single diametric plane of said member passes through each of said pins.

3. In a knitting machine having a housing and a movable carn, means adapted to move said cam comprising a cylindrically shaped member rotatably journalled in said housing for actuating said cam, said member having an eccentric pin extending longitudinally from one end and a pair of spaced eccentric pins extending longitudinally from the opposite end thereof, said pair of pins being spaced cquidistantly to either side of the longitudinal axis of said member and having opposed outer surfaces coextensive with the cylindrical surface of said member.

4. in a knitting machine having a housing and a movable cam, means adapted to move said cam comprising a cylindrically shaped member rotatably journalled in said housing for actuating said cam, said member having an eccentric pin extending longitudinally from one end and a pair of spaced eccentric pins extending longitudinally from the opposite end thereof, said pair of pins being spaced equidistantly to either side of the longitudinal axis of the said member, each of said pair of pins having a pair of adjacent surfaces generally meeting to form a longitudinally extending edge in a cylindrical surface coaxial with said member.

5. In a knitting machine having a housing and a movable cam, means adapted to move said cam comprising a. cylindrically shaped member rotatably journalled in said housing for actuating said cam, said member having an eccentric pin extending longitudinally from one end and a pair of spaced eccentric pins extending longitudinally from the opposite end thereof, said pair of pins being spaced equidistantly to either side of the longitudinal axis of said member, each of said pair of pins having an outer cylindrical surface coaxial with a cylindrical surface coaxial with said member and an adjacent surface meeting said first mentioned surface to form a longitudinally extending edge in said cylindrical surface and in a plane in which the axis of said member lies.

6. In a knitting machine having a housing and a movable cam, means adapted to move said cam comprising a cylindrically shaped member rotatably journalled in said housing for actuating said cam, said member having an eccentric pin extending longitudinally from one end and a pair of spaced eccentric pins extending longitudinally from the opposite end thereof, said pair of pins being spaced equidistantly to either side of the longitudinal axis of said member, each of said pair of pins having an outer cylindrical surface coaxial with the said member and an adjacent surface meeting said first mentioned surface to form a longitudinally extending edge in said cylindrical surface, and pattern means adapted to alternately engage each of said pair of pins to rotate said member, said pair of pins being angularly positioned so that said edges initially engage said pattern means.

7. In a knitting machine having a housing and a movable cam, means adapted to move said cam comprising a cylindrically shaped member rotatably journalled in said housing for actuating said cam, said member having an eccentric pin extending longitudinally from one end and a pair of spaced eccentric pins extending longitudinally from the opposite end thereof, said pair of pins being spaced equidistantly to either side of the longitudinal axis of said member, each of said pair of pins being four-sided of which one side is coaxial with said member, of which the sides adjacent to said one side are parallel to a diametric plane through the center of said one side, and of which the fourth side is not normal to said plane.

8. In a knitting machine having a housing and a movable cam, means adapted to move said cam comprising a cylindrically shaped member rotatably journalled in said housing for actuating said cam, said member having an eccentric pin extending longitudinally from one end and a pair of spaced eccentric pins extending longitudinally from the opposite end thereof, said pair of pins being spaced equidistantly to either side of the longitudinal axis of said member, each of said pair of pins being four-sided of which one side is coaxial with said member, of which the sides adjacent to said one side are parallel to a diametric plane through the center of said one side, and of which the fourth side is not normal to said plane, said pair of pins being relatively disposed so that their parallel sides are co-planar and so that their fourth sides are parallel.

9. In a knitting machine having a housing and a movable cam, means adapted to move said cam comprising a cylindrically shaped member rotatably journalled in said housing for actuating said cam, said member having an eccentric pin extending longitudinally from one end and a pair of spaced eccentric pins extending longitudinaily from the opposite end thereof, said pair of pins being spaced equidistantly to either side of the longitudinal axis of said member, each of said pair of pins being four-sided of which one side is coaxial with said member, of which the sides adjacent to said one side are parallel to a diametric plane through the center of said one side, and of which the fourth side is not normal to said plane, said pair of pins being relatively disposed so that their parallel sides are co-planar and so that their fourth sides are parallel, one parallel side of each pin being wider than the other, and pattern means adapted to alternately engage each of said pair of pins to rotate said member, said pair of pins being angularly positioned so that the edge formed between the wider parallel side and the first side initially engages said pattern means.

10. In a knitting machine having a housing and a movable cam, means adapted to move said cam comprising a cylindrically shaped member rotatably journalled in said housing for actuating said cam, said member having an eccentric pin extending longitudinally from one end and a pair of spaced eccentric pins extending longitudinally from the opposite end thereof, said pair of pins being spaced equidistantly to either side of the longitudinal axis of said member, said member having a pair of diametrically opposed flat parallel surfaces normal to a diametric plane of said member through the axis of said single pin.

11. In a knitting machine having a housing and a movable cam, means adapted to move said cam comprising a cylindrically shaped member rotatably journalled in said housing for actuating said cam, said member having an eccentric pin extending longitudinally from one end and a pair of spaced eccentric pins extending longitudinally from the opposite end thereof, said pair of pins being spaced equidistantly to either side of the longitudinal axis of said member, said member having a pair of diametrically opposed flat parallel surfaces normal to a diametric plane of said member through the axis of said single pin, the peripheral faces between said fiat surfaces being co-extensive with the cylindrical surface of said member.

12. In a knitting machine having a housing and a movable cam, means adapted to move said cam comprising a cylindrically shaped member rotatably journalled in said housing for actuating said cam, said member having an eccentric pin extending longitudinally from one end and a pair of spaced eccentric pins extending longitudinally from the opposite end thereof, said pair of pins being spaced equidistantly to either side of the longitudinal axis of said member, said member having a pair of diametrically opposed fiat parallel surfaces normal to a diametric plane of said member through the axis of said single pin, and a spring urged detent slidably mounted in said housing for yielding engagement with said flat surfaces.

13. In a knitting machine having a housing and a movable cam, means adapted to move said cam comprising a cylindrically shaped member rotatably journalled in said housing for actuating said cam, said member having an eccentric pin extending longitudinally from the opposite end thereof, said pair of pins being spaced equidistantly to either side of the longitudinal axis of said member, said member having a pair of diametrically opposed flat parallel surfaces normal to a diametric plane of said member through the axis of said single pin, and a spring urged detent slidably mounted in said housing for yielding engagement with said flat surfaces, said detent comprising a cylinder having a fiat bottoming face for said engagement.

14. In a knitting machine having a housing and a movable cam, means adapted to move said cam comprising a cylindrically shaped member rotatably journalled in said housing for actuating said cam, said member having an eccentric pin extending longitudinally from one end and a pair of spaced eccentric pins extending longitudinally from the opposite end thereof, said pair of pins being spaced equidistantly to either side of the longitudinal axis of said member, said member having a pair of diametrically opposed flat parallel surfaces normal to a diametric plane of said member through the axis of said single pin, a spring urged detent slidably mounted in said housing for yielding engagement with said flat surfaces, said detent comprising a cylinder having a flat bottoming face for said engagement, and pattern means adapted to alternate- 1y engage each of said pair of pins to rotate said member through successive arcs of 180 degrees each, each rotation of said member causing said detent at a point during the rotation to terminate engagement with one of said flat surfaces and to engage the other one thereof, said detent upon engaging the said other flat surface acting to assist the subsequent rotation of said member.

15. In a knitting machine having a housing and a movable cam, means adapted to move said cam comprising a cylindrically shaped member rotatably journalled in said housing for actuating said cam, said member having an eccentric pin extending longitudinally from one end and a pair of spaced eccentric pins extending longitudinally from the opposite end thereof, said pair of pins being spaced equidistantly to either side of the longitudinal axis of said member, said member having a pair of diametrically opposed flat parallel surfaces normal to a diametric plane of said member through the axis of said single pin, the peripheral faces between said fiat surfaces being coextensive With the cylindrical surface of said member, and a spring urged detent slidably mounted in said housing for alternate yielding engagement with said flat surfaces, said detent comprising, a cylinder having a flat bottoming face for said engagement, partial rotation of said member causing said detent to terminate engagement with one of said flat surfaces and to engage one of said peripheral faces at which time said member may be withdrawn from said housing Without disassembly of the detent and Without removing said housing from said machine.

16. In a knitting machine having a housing and a movable cam, means adapted to move said cam comprising a cylindrically shaped member rotatably journalled in said housing for actuating said cam, said member having an eccentric pin extending longitudinally from one end and a pair of spaced eccentric pins extending longitudinally from the opposite end thereof, said pair of pins being spaced equidistantly to either side of the longitudinal axis of said member, said member having a pair of diametrically opposed flat parallel surfaces normal to a diametric plane of said member through the axis of said single pin, the peripheral faces between said flat surfaces being coextensive with the cylindrical surface of said member, a spring urged detent slidably mounted in said housing for alternate yielding engagement with the flat surfaces of said member, said detent comprising a cylinder having a flat bottoming face for said engagement, and means limiting the amount of further movement of said detent in the absence of said member from said housing, said detent in its so-limited position permitting the insertion of said member in said housing.

17. In a knitting machine having a housing and a movable cam, means adapted to move said cam comprising a cylindrically shaped member rotatably journalled in said housing for actuating said cam, said member having an eccentric pin extending longitudinally from one end and a pair of spaced eccentric pins extending longitudinally from the opposite end thereof, said pair of pins being spaced equidistantly to either side of the longitudinal axis of said member, said member having a pair of diametrically opposed flat parallel surfaces normal to a diametric plane of said member through the axis of said single pin, the peripheral faces between said flat surfaces being coextensive With the cylindrical surface of said member, a spring urged detent slidably mounted in said housing for alternate yielding engagement with the flat surfaces of said member, said detent comprising a cylinder having a fiat bottoming face for said engagement, and means limiting the amount of further movement of said detent in the absence of said member from said housing, said detent in its so-limited position permitting the insertion of said member in said housing, said detent limiting means comprising a shoulder on said detent and a shoulder in said housing, said shoulders being disposed so that they are spaced when said member is in said housing and are in movement limiting contact in the absence of said member from said housing.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,189,276 Agulnek et a1 Feb. 6, 1940 

